As the cold of winter intensifies, PPL Electric Utilities has offered tips to help customers stay safe and save on their energy bills.

Even with the best preparation and information, storms and severe weather can cause damage and result in outages. PPL customers may adjust alert preferences to receive a phone call, text or email at http://www.pplelectric.com/alerts to stay informed during a storm. PPL customers who experience an outage may report it by calling 800-DIAL-PPL, visiting http://www.pplelectric.com/outage or texting "Outage" to TXTPPL.

All readers are advised to charge their phones and other devices in advance of a storm so they are fully powered. They should also keep generators far from buildings and not operate them in confined spaces, such as garages, and stay away from downed wires and always assume they are live and carry electricity. To report downed wires, call the aforementioned number.

People looking to save energy and money when the temperature declines may try the following suggestions.

Leave curtains and blinds open during the day to capture the sun's light and heat. At night, close the curtains and blinds to prevent that free heat from escaping.

To prevent fireplace heat loss, keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use so warm air does not escape through the chimney. Energy-efficient fireplace grates also help to save by pulling cool air out of the room and into the fireplace while bringing warm air back into the room.

Reverse the direction of ceiling fans. Flip the switch to change the direction of the blades so they spin clockwise and pull warm air downward.

Winterize windows and doors. Inspect all doors, windows and ductwork for gaps that could allow heat to escape from the home. Many of these cracks and leaks can easily be fixed with caulk and weather stripping.

Adjust the thermostat. When people are home and awake, they should set the heat as low as it feels comfortable, possibly aiming for 68 degrees as an optimal temperature. Wearing warmer clothing or grabbing a blanket can help keep a person cozy. While people are sleeping or out of the house, they may lower the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees. A programmable thermostat can make it even easier to save.